Building Up
The City of Bend is quickly becoming just that: a city. As what was small town just 30 years ago metamorphosizes into a small city, it comes with distinct growing pains as more and more people try and find space in a fiercely competitive housing market. Bend historically has been made up of single-family homes,…
Pride of the Slopes
Inclusion in the outdoors” is a topic one might hear discussed in many circles: among those who identify as LGBTQ+, among those advocating for those with disabilities or for the BIPOC community, to name a few. This year, OUT Central Oregon’s Winter PrideFest will bring people from all of those groups together as part of…
The Neighborhoods of Central Oregon
But if you’re new here—and we know many of you are—you may still be figuring it all out. Where’s the best place to live if you’re a mountain biker? What about for those seeking amazing views to gaze at while sipping that morning coffee? Where can dog lovers go to find a welcoming scene, or…
Listen: Bend Don’t Break with Russ Grayson, City of Bend COO and Asst City Manager 🎧
Bend is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States—yet people here often wonder why certain developments take so long to get off the ground, or why a project not favored by the public got off the ground anyway. In this podcast, Russ Grayson of the City of Bend discusses Oregon’s land use policy,…
The Green Tire Giveaway
People of all ages enjoy a good scavenger hunt every once in a while. Whether looking for Easter eggs, Christmas presents or even a green tire, the act of buckling down and diligently searching for something keeps us on our toes and our brain cells firing. So, bust out your best detective skills and head…
Trail Permit System Amended
The Deschutes National Forest and Willamette National Forest will alter their permitting system after experimenting with a system that allowed people to buy permits a full season in advance. Last year was the first year the Forests enforced a permit system for some of the popular trails in Central Oregon. “Last summer there was a…
Mud About You
Mud About You I’m a recently divorced woman. With COVID restrictions easing up, I’d like to go out to bars again. I’m rusty on flirting etiquette. Should I have a “pickup line” or wait for a man to make the first move and then hint I’m interested? —Unsure Men do not speak hint. Hinting to…
¿Cubrebocas optativos?
Durante la reunión del 16 de febrero, la mesa directiva del distrito escolar de Redmond indicó al personal del distrito escolar que redactara una nueva política en relación a COVID-19 que indique que el uso del cubrebocas sea optativo tanto para los alumnos como para el personal. La fecha límite para adoptar le política es…
Is Climate Anxiety Bad for the Planet?
Lovers of the natural world know that the signs of climate change are everywhere. Record warm temperatures and low snow in winter, early wildflowers in spring (or winter!), smoky skies and fires in the summer, and the new lexicon of heat domes, atmospheric rivers, and bomb cyclones. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when we see…
Celebrate the Local “Food Seen”
Central Oregon is no backwater populated by a random café or two, or worse, a sea of fast food chains as far as the eye can see. Instead, it’s loaded with local restaurants, food carts, bars and other places offering up local ingredients and local love. To celebrate this wealth of deliciousness, we’re rolling out…
Eastside: Easygoing East Side
East Bend is a great metaphor for Bend’s past, present and future. Many of its home predate its annexation into Bend proper, and small developments filled in the formerly rural area in the ’90s, yet there’s still growth to come in the neighborhoods on the east side. Let’s start with the neighborhood’s newest amenity, the…
Boyd Acres: From Rags to Ranches, From Ranches to Riches
Boyd Acres is one of the newer neighborhoods in Bend, but it has deep roots. Charles William Boyd arrived in Central Oregon in 1904 with hopes of expanding his cattle business. Originally buying six acres by the Deschutes River, Boyd eventually bought up 600 acres and the area became known for ranching and timber. The…
Old Bend / River West: Old Bend/River West
Smack dab dead in the middle of the city holds two neighborhoods known as Old Bend and River West. These two youthful yet historic sections of Bend nestle all of its residents fairly close to some popular shopping centers and hangout spots like the Old Mill District and a selection of original breweries, restaurants and…
Southern Crossing & Southwest Bend: Stunning Views, River Access
Southern Crossing is the quintessential Bend neighborhood, located in Southwest Bend. Sprawling Cascade Mountain views and the Deschutes River provide wonderful backdrops for residents. Combining the natural beauty of the area with the close proximity to amenities and outdoor recreation activities, it’s clear why many seek out this location for their home. The heart of…
Birria Fest 2022
I sometimes feel like an old man yelling at clouds when I consider why certain things are trending on Instagram. Some dances and memes make little to no sense to me—but when a food starts trending, with mouth-watering photos and an interesting back story, I get obsessed rather quickly. Enter one of the last big…
Zwickelmania Offers Beer Lovers Hopportunity to Peek Under the Hood
Feb. 26’s Oregon Brewers Guild’s 14th annual Zwickelmania may seem slightly confounding since the event is all about getting everyone to crowd into every craft brewery in the state, and we’ve been told for the last two years not to crowd into anywhere. So if you want to try a bunch of beer—wait, let me…
Century & Summit West: West Side Living
The west side is the best side when it comes to famous biking trails and luxury homes, and both Century and Summit West neighborhoods have a plethora of each. And as time goes by, this section of Bend sits as the fastest-growing zone on the west side because of new businesses and homes that continue…
Orchard: The Bendite’s Bend
Visit the Orchard District and you’re likely to see a colorful sign or two, and among them, a sign that reads, “We love our diverse and welcoming neighborhood”—a sign also visible in Spanish. Orchard is the most racially diverse neighborhood in Bend, with twice as many Black residents, three times as many Latinx residents and…
Awbrey Butte: Environmentally Conscious Neighbors
Awbrey Butte is a neighborhood that’s in town, yet out of town at the same time. Though relatively close to downtown, the majestic views that swallow up this Northwest region are unsurmountable in Bend and maybe even all of Central Oregon. Sparkling city lights, mature trees and a well taken care of surrounding environment create…
Live from Big Story Books & Movies
Feb. 4 was a special night for Brian Craig. It was a First Friday, with the town coming alive to hit up downtown Bend and the Central District, while Craig was playing music at Big Story Books & Movies amid a wine pop-up event by Bar Fiori. Good music, good books, good food and good…
Leaf of Life
There’s nothing I love more than an underlying current of melancholy floating beneath a film, giving the piece a tone and a texture unlike anything else. As great as a romance or a horror movie can be, if there’s a film that finds that balance of emotional realism and a sadness based in the everyday…
Masks Optional?
The Redmond School Board directed district staff to draft a new COVID-19 policy that makes masks optional for both students and staff at its regular meeting Feb. 16. The deadline for implementing the policy is March 2, short of the date of March 31 state health and education officials announced would be the latest date…
Can a Blank Check Solve Oregon’s Partisan Woes?
We’ve seen it in many forms at the state and national level over the past several years: Partisans in the state House and Senate, and those in the U.S. House and Senate, driven to distraction over their ideological differences. In Oregon it has gotten so dysfunctional that a Democratic supermajority has caused Oregon Republicans on…
Letters to the Editor 2/24/2022
TRUCKER TANTRUM 80% of Canadians are vaccinated against COVID-19. Fortunately for them, Canadians aren’t culturally hobbled by a large minority of anti-science, religious fundamentalist flat earthers forcing their foolish faith into law, the way cancel culture conservatives have traditionally attacked American democracy with their nonsense and baseless bigotry. For the most part, Canadian truckers are…
Free Will Astrology—Week of February 24
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “I not only bow to the inevitable,” wrote Aries author Thornton Wilder. “I am fortified by it.” Wow. That was a brazen declaration. Did he sincerely mean it? He declared that he grew stronger through surrender, that he derived energy by willingly giving in to the epic trends of his destiny.…
